On the latest episode of the podcast we're pretty excited about the upcoming Unravel festival of knitting at Farnham Maltings. Not only is it one of our favourite shows of the year and right here in our backyard, but we'll be launching the London Craft Guide there and we're thrilled that we can finally start telling you all about it.

Over the next few weeks leading up to Unravel we'll be interviewing the contributing designers from the London Craft Guide as well as showing you their wonderful projects (photographed beautifully by Juju Vail).

To kick things off we're starting with friend of Yarn in the City - Kate Atherley - whose Because Sock Yarn shawlette and fingerless mitts make the most out of every last meter of souvenir sock yarn!

Photo credit: Juju Vail

YITC: Tell us about the inspiration for your design.KA: The inspiration for this design was a one-of-a-kind skein of sock yarn that I bought when I was on holiday. I do it all the time: visit yarn shops when I’m away from home, and because I’m a sock knitter, I look for sock yarn. And sometimes the sock yarn is too pretty for socks, and needs to be shown off! As it pretty typical, the sock yarn I’d bought was pretty wildly variegated, and so I although I wanted to make a neck piece, I knew that a classic lace shawl wouldn’t work. Although it uses traditional lace shawl design elements: garter stitch, and an applied edging, I think I’ve created something interesting to knit, and modern and fun to wear. And of course, because the shawl doesn’t use up all of the yarn, the rest of the skein makes a pair of fingerless mitts, which allow you to show off the yarn and use up the leftovers. They’re quick to knit, so you might even get them finished before your trip ends. You do travel with a spare set of 2.5mm needles, don’t you?

YITC: How do travel and craft fit together in your world?KA: I travel a fair bit to teach. For me, knitting is a critically important part of travel: it’s a way to pass time and keep myself entertained, and equally it’s a way to get some very focused knitting time without interruptions. I couldn’t bear to be without a project (or five) when I’m on the road. I love that I can knit while still keeping an eye on what’s going on: enjoying the view from the train, people-watching, or indulging in a trashy movie on the in-flight entertainment system.

YITC: Tell us about you and your personal design style. How does your project fit in?KA: Ultimately, I’m all about practical and wearable pieces. I like that they should be interesting or out-of-the-ordinary, and fun (or challenging or informative or engaging to make) but at the end of the day I want to be able to use and wear what I make. This pair of designs is exactly that: a fun project with a practical (but not uninteresting) result!

Photo credit: Juju Vail

YITC: What's your favorite part of the designing/creative process?KA: I love that first spark of an idea: finding a stitch pattern in a stitch library, seeing an image I want recreate in yarn (a wrought-iron gate in New York inspired an upcoming sock pattern), or finding a yarn that calls to me. And then I love that final finishing step, seeing the thing I imagined become real: weaving in that final end, seaming that final seam, pinning the piece out for blocking.

YITC: Do you have a favourite designer who's work you follow?KA: There are two designers whose work I adore: Bristol Ivy, because I think she represents the future of the craft, and Susan Crawford, because she honours and keeps us in touch with the rich history.

YITC: What creative (or travel!) plans do you have for 2016?KA: I’m travelling a lot for teaching this year, and I’m excited about it. I find that being in a new place always inspires. I love to see what yarns and projects other knitters love, and I always learn from other knitters.

Kate also enjoys walking her dog, and drinking coffee. She's always knitting, whether it's one of her designs or someone else's. Up next for Kate: she's working on a book about mittens and gloves. You can find more of her designs on Ravelry, or through her website, or follow her on Twitter and Instagram!

save the date!

The Yarnporium returns to central London November 2 - 3, 2018. Join us for talks, workshops and an amazing marketplace to celebrate the return of sweater weather!

awesome sponsors!

The Yarn Collective sponsor the Yarn in the City podcast and are sponsors of Indie Designer Day at this year's Yarnporium.

Welcome Willow & Lark! This year's yarn sponsor of the Great London Yarn Crawl!

now available!

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Day Two: Corner Of Our Home - has to be YITC HQ where we record and edit our podcast! The show has been on hiatus due to post-Yarnporium, Christmas and family travels but as soon as we can get together again we’ll have new episodes for you. Stay tuned!!
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#yarnlovechallenge #yarnlovechallenge2019 #yitcmakehappy #yarnporium2018 #makersofinstagram #yitcyarnadventures #yarninthecitypodcast

Hello! 👋
We’ve had quite a few new followers recently and with the #yarnlovechallenge starting today we thought it might be a nice way to introduce ourselves again!
Day 1: Intro!
We are (l-r) @porpoise_fur (Rachel) and @champagneandqiviut (Alli) and together we create and host yarn-centric events in and around London and sometimes the wider UK. 🇬🇧 We also love visiting yarn shows and meeting awesome makers - then sharing those finds on our podcast or hosting those makers at our #Yarnporium. We also put together the annual Great London Yarn Crawl which is a fantastic day out in September every year.
If you’re not able to join us in London when we have an event on, we also host a weekly Stitch Night in SW London near to Clapham Junction, and we’ve published a couple of books on where to find the best yarn shops in the city!
If you’d like to know more about our events, click the link in our profile to sign up for our newsletter or download our podcast from our website or on iTunes. 😊
#yarnlovechallenge2019 #yitcmakehappy #yitcyarnadventures #yarnporium2018 #makersofinstagram

We’re winners, baby! Thank you SO much to all of you who votes for us in @knitnow’s Knitter of the Year 2018 awards. We are beyond thrilled to be a winner in the Local Superstar category! Huge congratulations to fellow winners - we can wait to see old friends and make new ones on our day out at @westyorkshirespinners. Thank you again everyone!!
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#yitcyarnadventures #makersofinstagram #yarnporium2018 #yitcmakehappy

Love looking back on the past year with our 2018 Best Nine! It’s been a crazy year of yarn adventures and we’ve been so happy to have you along for the ride with us! Thank you!!
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It’s also the last day to cast your vote for us in the Knit Now Knitter of the Year 2018 awards in the Local Superstar category. If you like our yarny events and the way we champion indie makers across the UK, we hope you will! Link to the voting is in our profile. .
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#2018bestnine #yitcyarnadventures #yitcmakehappy #yarnporium2018 #sweaterweatherchallenge

One last post before everyone scatters for Christmas.
We’ve joined @rosygreenwool and @mairlynd in their campaign to support the Against Malaria Foundation @againstmalaria.
If you’re making any charitable donations this holiday season or if you still have a little extra to give, we’d love to encourage you to support this fundraiser.
Wishing each and every one of you and yours the best this holiday.
#knittersagainstmalaria

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